Janine

"I’m a happy-go-lucky person. Happy to be settled and happy to have a job. When my husband and I first arrived in Brisbane two years ago we were on the streets with our little dog, Cracker. It was hard to get meals and I was scared all the time because we had to sleep behind churches, in public toilets and at the back of buildings. We got into a boarding house, but it wasn’t safe.

My husband is always in and out of hospital. He’s a landscaper, but has a bad heart and asthma. So when the housing people showed us a one-bedroom unit we said ‘yes’ as soon as they opened the front door. It’s so nice to sit back in our big recliners and watch TV.

I’ve moved around a lot in my life, but I finally feel settled. I grew up in Tassie on a dairy farm and I’m still an early riser. We got up at 3am to milk the cows. It was early for kids who then had to go to school. I went to a special school. It was okay, but I had to leave when I was 12 because of my migraines. I hate the jolly things. I’m 49 now and still get them almost every day. It’s a long time to have a headache.

After school I just stayed at home and worked on the farm until Dad fell out with his dad and we had to leave the farm. We hit the road in a caravan and went all over Tassie while Mum and Dad looked for a suitable place for us. I loved it. Something new all the time. After about a year we got a house. I remember it being flea-infested and brown water came out of the taps. I wanted to go back to the caravan.

I left home when I was 22 to live with my boyfriend, who became the father of my two children. He was very controlling; a drinker; he beat me and was very cruel to the kids. I always wanted to leave but stayed 16 years too long. Anyhow, the good news is I ended up falling for one of his mates and finally left with him. We’ve been together 11 years now and I’m happy.

I really like selling The Big Issue. It suits me because I can work my own hours and go home if I feel a headache coming on. I want to build up to having regular customers. I really enjoy meeting different people when they stop for a chat. It would be nice if there were a few more female vendors selling – there’s not many of us.

I have my granddaughter on school holidays so I bring her with me when I’m selling. She’s so cute; seven years old with big brown eyes and curly hair. She sits beside me and loves it because people bring her colouring books and Barbies.